Butter-box



(No Model.)

R. A. SIMPSON.

BUTTER BOX.

No. 544,997. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.

Ill

Hill

llilllllllllllumm mlllllljlllmm RUFUSA. SIMPSON, OF FERNDALE, CALIFORNIA.

BUTTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,597, dated August 20, 1895. Application filed May 14, 1895. Serial No. 549,276. (No model..

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUFUS A. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ferndale, county of Humboldt, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Butter- Boxes; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in boxes for transportation of butter. It consists in certain details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box closed, looking at it from the front. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the front locking device. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through one of the rear hinges. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the hinge.

The object of my invention is to provide such an improvement in butter-boxes as will dispense with exterior cleats, will provide a simple non-projecting fastening for the cover when closed, and hinges so constructed that they will not become destroyed by the corrosive action of salt and will always have freedom of motion.

A is the body of a. box having a cover B. These boxes are usually made of a depth just sufficient to receive the packages of butter, which are fitted into them on end, and the ends of the packages, being about flush with the top of the box, will stand near the cover when the latteris closed. In order to handle these boxes, which are of considerable size, it has been customary to nail stout cleats along the upper edges of the boxes to form handles by which to lift them. These projecting cleats, besides occupying considerable space and preventing the boxes lying close together, are very apt to become knocked oflf, and my first improvement consists in making channels C in the sides of the boxes, so that any one can introduce the fingers and use these channels as handles by which to lift the box, while the box itself, having flush surfaces, can be .packed closely against any adjacent'box.

The thickness of the sides of these boxes is sufficient to allow such a channel or handle to be formed and still leave a sufficient amount of material inside of that.

The cover of the box is formed with a downwardly-projecting rim or flange B'all around, and this fits over a corresponding upwardlyprojecting flange A on the inner upper edge of the box. This protects the contents from rain and dust.

The hinges are formed as follows: Dis a strap of iron fitted to the top rear edge of the cover, extending down a little distance below the bottom of the flange B of the cover. This strap is securely fastened by screws, as shown in Fig. 3, and has a slot or channel E made through it near the lower end. F is another strap, which is correspondingly secured upon the back of the box A and extends up to a level with the top of the inner flange A which surrounds the box, being bent at right angles, so that its inner end may rest upon the top of this flange and be secured thereto, as shown in Fig. 3. This strap F is of sufficient width to just fit the slot E of the strap D, through which it is passed before being fastened upon the box. The two hinges being formed in the same manner, it will be.

seen that the cover is thus united to the body of the box by a loose joint having no pintle, but having great strength to resist the strains of opening the cover.

The lower end of the strap D, which is secured to the cover, moves in the groove or channel formed exterior to the flange A- and between it and the angular bend at the tod of the strap F, and thus allows the cover to be turned back freely when opened and to be drawn forward when it is closed, so that the flanges of the cover fit over the flanges of the box and the rectangular slot E fits snugly against the strap F and prevents any movement of the cover when the latter is closed.

When the lid is opened to stand a little back of avertical plane, the projecting portion of the strap D, below the slot E, is brought into contact with the upper part of strap F, and the rear edge of the box-lid is brought into contact with the rear edge of the box, thus forming a lock or brace to prevent the lid falling back when opened to display the contents of the box or for other purpose.

In order to fasten the cover when closed I have shown a strap G, let into the top and front of the cover and secured by screws.

This strap is bent at right angles, extending down through a slot H made in the cover and into a groove I, which is channeled in the front of the box, as shown in Fig. 1. At this point the strap Gis upturned, so as to form a hook J, and this allows a wedge-shaped piece K to be introduced between the hook J and the bottom of the channel or slot I, thus looking the cover firmly. At the same time the locking device, being sunk below the surface of the Wood, is not liable to be knocked oif or displaced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A butter box consisting of a box having an upwardly projecting flange A at its upper edge, and a strap secured to said box and bent, at its upper end, over the flange thereof, in combination with a cover having a strap extending below its flange with a slot intermediate of its ends, through which the box strap passes, the lower projecting end of the cover strap being within the channel or groove formed between the flange A of the box and the angular bend of the box strap, said straps forminga joint about which the cover is freely movable.

2. A butter box having a body, a cover hinged thereto, and a fastening device consisting of a strap or plate secured to the top of the box, bent at right angles through the front having an up-turned end, a channel formed in the front of the box into which said end projects when the cover is closed and a sliding bar adapted to lock the end of the strap therein.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RUFUS A. SIMPSON.

WVitnesses:

H. A. TYRELL, O. H. BOYNTON. 

